South Africa registered their fourth win in five matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, as they thrashed Bangladesh by 269 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Quinton de Kock scored a brilliant 174 off 140 balls to power South Africa to a mammoth 382 for 5 in 50 overs. Bangladesh never looked in the hunt as they were bowled out for 113 in 27.5 overs, with Marco Jansen and Lizaad Williams taking two wickets each.
De Kock’s masterclass
The South African opener was in sublime form as he smashed 15 fours and seven sixes in his innings. He added 86 runs for the first wicket with Reeza Hendricks, who made 12 off 19 balls. After Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen fell cheaply, de Kock found an able partner in Aiden Markram, who scored 60 off 69 balls. The duo put on 136 runs for the third wicket, with de Kock reaching his century off just 91 balls.
De Kock continued his onslaught as he raced to his 150 off 125 balls. He was eventually dismissed by Hasan Mahmud in the 43rd over, but not before he had set the platform for a huge total. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller provided the finishing touches with some explosive hitting. Klaasen smashed 90 off 49 balls, while Miller made 34 off 15 balls. The pair added 92 runs in just seven overs, as South Africa posted their highest total in World Cup history.
Bangladesh’s collapse
Bangladesh’s chase was doomed from the start, as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Jansen struck twice in his first spell, removing Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto for 12 and zero respectively. Liton Das showed some resistance with a 44-ball 22, but he fell to Williams in the ninth over.
The biggest blow for Bangladesh came when their captain and star batsman Shakib Al Hasan was caught behind off Williams for just one run. Shakib, who had missed the previous game due to a hamstring injury, looked rusty and out of touch. His dismissal left Bangladesh reeling at 38 for 4.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah tried to rebuild the innings, but they could not cope with the pressure of the mounting run-rate. Rahim was caught by Markram off Kagiso Rabada for eight, while Mahmudullah was bowled by Keshav Maharaj for 39. Mahmudullah was the only batsman to cross 20 runs for Bangladesh, as they folded up for a paltry score.
South Africa’s dominance
South Africa have been one of the most impressive teams in this World Cup so far, with only one loss against Netherlands in a close encounter. They have bounced back strongly from that defeat, beating England and Bangladesh by huge margins. Their batting has been their main strength, with de Kock leading the way with two centuries and a fifty. Markram, van der Dussen and Klaasen have also chipped in with valuable contributions.
Their bowling has been equally effective, with Rabada, Jansen and Maharaj being the standout performers. They have also been well supported by Coetzee, Williams and Miller, who have provided variety and depth to their attack. South Africa have shown that they are a balanced and formidable unit, capable of challenging any team in this tournament.
Bangladesh’s woes
Bangladesh have had a disappointing campaign so far, with only one win against Sri Lanka in their opening match. They have lost to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa by big margins, and are virtually out of contention for the semi-finals. Their batting has been inconsistent and fragile, with only Mahmudullah showing some form and consistency. Shakib’s injury has also hampered their chances, as he is their best batsman and bowler.
Their bowling has been lacklustre and ineffective, with only Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz showing some spark. They have failed to contain the opposition batsmen, and have conceded over 300 runs in three out of four matches. Bangladesh have also been sloppy in the field, dropping catches and missing run-outs. They will need to improve their performance drastically if they want to salvage some pride in their remaining matches.
